Mussina Brilliant as Yanks Complete Sweep of Twins

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Minnesota	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1		1	9	0
N.Y. Yankees	0	0	0	0	2	3	0	0	X		5	9	0

The Yankees completed their sweep of the Twins to make in six in a row overall, and ten in a row at home (the most since 1998), with their 5-1 win this afternoon.

Mike Mussina was brilliant today, as he dominated the Twins over 8 innings. He allowed no runs on six hits, didn't walk a batter, and struck out seven. He is now tied with Cliff Lee and Brandon Webb for the league lead in wins with 13, and his ERA is now 3.26. Isn't amazing that the Ace of this staff is a 39 year old Mike Mussina?

Latroy Hawkins may have pitched his last game as a Yankee today when he couldn't finish off a 5-0 game and made the Yankees use Rivera in a game they shouldn't have. In .2 of an inning he allowed a run on three hits. I feel bad for him, he's supposedly a really nice guy, and he's obviously trying his best, he's even changed his pitching motion. But nothing has worked, and he's a wasted roster spot, so it was nice knowing ya Latroy. The Yanks should (and probably will) DFA Hawkins and call up Bruney.

Like I said Rivera had to be used today, and he made in 25-for-25 in save opportunities by striking out the only batter he face.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Mussina (W, 13-6)	8.0	6	0	0	0	7	0	3.26
Hawkins	0.2	3	1	1	0	1	0	5.71
Rivera (S, 25)	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1.21

TWINS PITCHING

Twins' starter Glen Perkins pitched well for the first four innings, but the Yankees got to him for five runs in his final two.

With runners on 1st and 2nd and one out in the 5th Jose Molina grounded into what should have been an inning-ending double play, but Alexi Casilla apparently forgot how many outs there were and was too late covering 2nd to complete the DP, even with the slow moving Molina running the bases. So instead of the inning being over the Yanks had runners 1st and 3rd with two out. The next batter was Justin Christian and he lined a double down the line to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead.

Recently the Yankees have been taking advantage of other team's mistakes, which is something they hadn't been doing earlier in the year.

The Yanks added three more in the bottom of the 6th on a RBI double by Alex Rodriguez, and a sac fly by Richie Sexson.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, DH	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	.315
Jeter, SS	4	1	2	0	0	1	1	.285
Abreu, RF	3	1	0	0	1	1	2	.275
Rodriguez, A, 3B	4	1	1	2	0	0	0	.318
Sexson, 1B	3	0	0	1	0	1	0	.216
Cano, 2B	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.265
Cabrera, CF	3	0	2	0	0	0	1	.248
Molina, C	3	1	0	0	0	0	3	.222
Christian, LF	3	0	2	2	0	0	0	.286
Totals	31	5	9	5	1	4	9
BATTING 2B: Christian (2, Perkins), Jeter (21, Perkins), Rodriguez, A (20, Perkins). TB: Jeter 3; Rodriguez, A 2; Cano 2; Cabrera 2; Christian 3. RBI: Christian 2 (4), Rodriguez, A 2 (61), Sexson (32). 2-out RBI: Christian 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Damon; Abreu. SF: Sexson. Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING SB: Christian (3, 2nd base off Guerrier/Redmond). CS: Abreu (7, 2nd base by Perkins/Redmond). PO: Abreu (1st base by Perkins).

TWINS OFFENSE

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mike Mussina (8 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K)

HONORABLE MENTION: Justin Christian (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, SB)

The Yankees have a day off tomorrow and then they head up to Boston for a big three game series against the Sox at Fenway. In a great pitching matchup in the opener Joba Chamberlain will start for the Yanks, and will face Boston's Josh Beckett. Game Time: 7:05 p.m. - TV: My9 - Radio: WCBS 880